Oonagh's flowers

Flowers in April

April for me would usually mean wedding season has or is just about to start. But the strange times we find ourselves in have meant that bookings for wedding flowers have either been cancelled or postponed.

Fingers crossed that brides-tobe will get their ‘big day’ after restrictions are lifted in June, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Wedding floristry is very different to shop work; it’s more creative, allowing me to design bespoke floral decorations to the couples specification, and it’s great working in different venues across the south west.

One of my favourite moments is setting-up very early on the morning of the wedding, when I often find myself alone in an abbey or ancient historic house.

It’s in these moments of calm and silence that the weight of the properties age and history can be keenly felt.

Woodland walks have been a saving grace during lock-down and I’m looking forward to seeing the woodland floor gradually change colour as bluebells push up through the leaf litter and flower. Our elegant English bluebells are unfortunately being swamped by the Spanish variety, an interloper introduced into the UK by the Victorians as a garden plant.

The English bluebell can be told apart from the Spanish by it’s delicate curved stem supporting graceful hanging bells down one side - the Spanish bluebell stem has bells attached to all sides so is more upright.

Late flowering bulbs, early perennials and spring flowering shrubs are now available to bring into the home, including the likes of large headed Parrott tulips, fluffy Ranunculus, scented lilac, lily-of-the-valley and beautiful blossom.

Unfortunately blossom doesn’t have a good vase life, but it’s so glorious I can’t resist bringing a couple of sprigs in to enjoy.

Oonagh The English Florist